ECDA Goals

 
Goals
The Early Childhood Development Association was established in 1974. The following outlines the expected results of the organiziations work for 2012-13: (approved April 2012)
1.    Early Childhood Educators have tools and information to deliver high quality, professional practice.
1.1.  There is a high level of awareness of ethical practice in the profession.
1.2.  There are consistent standards of practice for Early Childhood Educators.
 
2.    Early Childhood Educators have resources to continuously improve their skills through their careers.
2.1.  ECEs can gain skills and knowledge of current best practice.
2.2.  There is an identified career path for Early Childhood Educators.
2.3.  ELCC directors have the skills and knowledge to run successful ELCC Centres.
2.3.1.     Pedagogical leadership
2.3.2.    Financial;
2.3.3.    Human Resource;
2.3.4.    Emerging issues in the sector.
 
3.    Parents have the tools and information they need to make the best Early Learning and Child Care choices to meet their child care needs.
 
4.    The public is aware of the impact of positive learning experiences and quality care in the early years.
 
4.1.1.    ECEs can speak confidently to the linkages between pedagogy and practice. This is the highest priority for the 2012-2013 year.
5.     There is a positive legislative environment for members.

 

Code of Ethics

Obligation to Children
This code of ethics contains the principles to which members of the Early Childhood Development Association of Prince Edward Island adhere while working with children.

  • An early childhood educator’s first obligation is to the children in his/her care.
  • The early childhood educator respects and accepts each child as they are; regardless of their race, creed, emotional or physical appearance.
  • Early Childhood educators consider the child’s interests, needs and abilities and utilize them to fulfill the child’s potential.
  • Early childhood educators create an environment which helps children develop self-confidence and trust in themselves and others.
  • Early childhood educators facilitate the development of the whole child.
  • The Early Childhood Educator has a moral and legal responsibility to report suspected cases of child abuse.

Obligation to Families
Families are of primary importance in children’s development. The term family may include others, besides parents, who are responsibly involved with the child. Early Childhood Educators acknowledge a responsibility to collaborate with both the home and school.

  • Early childhood educators recognize the role of parents as primary caregivers and educators' roles as ones which are supportive to the family and the child.
  • Early childhood educators respect the parents' knowledge of their child.
  • Early childhood educators maintain confidentiality regarding knowledge obtained in the daily dealing with children.
  • Early childhood educators maintain open communication with the child's family.
  • Early childhood educators respect different family values and beliefs.

Obligation to One’s Self and Colleagues
Early childhood educators often rely on a team approach. Good relations with co-workers are essential to achieve quality service. It is important to establish and maintain settings and relationships that support productive work and meet professional needs.

  • Early childhood educators make continued efforts to improve professionally by actively pursuing knowledge regarding developments in the early childhood education field.
  • Early childhood educators respect other colleagues as professionals.
  • Early childhood educators share knowledge with colleagues.
  • Early childhood educators maintain confidentiality about colleagues' views.
  • Early childhood educators work in a climate of trust and confidence which empowers them to speak and act in the best interests of children.

Code of Ethics for download

 

History
1974

  • First meeting of the ECDA.
  • The ECDA presented Government with a proposal for mandatory staff certification.

1978

  • The ECDA embarked in a province-wide public education campaign to inform parents as to the benefits of quality child care and early childhood education.

1979

  • The ECDA was asked by government to send representatives to sit on a committee to develop guidelines for the new regulations of the Child Care Facilities Act.
  • The ECDA organized the first of many fun fairs in an attempt to increase parental awareness and appreciation of the nature of Early Childhood Programs.
  • The ECDA developed the ECDA Equipment Library, which contains resource materials, tabletop toys and equipment, multicultural, science and developmental assessments kits.

1987

  • Government agreed and made provision in the revised Child Care Facilities Act that specifically names the ECDA as being represented in two of the positions on the Child Care Facilities Board (CCFB). 1

1988

  • The ECDA and the Department of Health and Social Services co-sponsored the first annual Kindergarten Conference for the province.
  • The ECDA organized the first annual Early Childhood Education Week.

1993

  • The ECDA helped sponsor and support the Community Development Project through the Brighter Futures Initiative.

1994

  • The ECDA became an affiliate member of the Canadian Child Care Federation giving our provincial membership a stronger support in the Early Childhood field.
  • The ECDA, along with the Health and Community Services Agency, conducted a Special Needs Pilot Project to help get a better picture of the special needs of Island children.

1997

  • The ECDA worked with the Department of Health and Social Services to develop a new kindergarten curriculum.

1998

  • The ECDA implemented a pilot program with the Department of Health and Social Services to test the new kindergarten curriculum.

1999

  • Worked with the Provincial Government to develop a Tobacco Control Strategy for PEI. 
  • Sent a representative to the National Children’s Agenda Regional Round Table in Newfoundland.
  • Appointed a member to chair the Healthy Child Development Advisory Committee, a community government committee tasked to develop a five year strategy for pre-natal to eight year old children on PEI.
  • Successful in having its proposal chosen, making PEI one of five pilot sites for Social Development Canada's (formerly HRDC) Understanding the Early Years Project.
  • New committee titled “Worthy Wages and Working Condition” formed to look at issues across PEI and potential solutions.

2000

  • The ECDA has three representatives on the Provincial Government’s Kindergarten Advisory Committee.
  • The ECDA was an intricate part of the Provincial Community Based Publically funded Kindergarten Implementation.
  • Representatives on the Kindergarten Curriculum Committee.
  • The Kings County ECDA began a literacy project “Little Expressions Mean a Lot”.
  • Hosted a leadership training institute in partnership with the Canadian Child Care Federation “Leading for Tomorrow”.
  • Co-hosted with New Brunswick the first “Braiding Our Resources” Conference to take place annually.
  • The ECDA has representatives on the Children’s Working Groups for the Children’s Secretariat.
  • The East Prince ECDA, in partnership with the East Prince Health, began “Fair Play”, a project focusing on emotional development and empathy skills to foster learning through drama, music and play experiences. The project worked with East Prince and Francophone kindergartens.

2001

  • “Worthy Wages and Working Conditions” committee in partnership with the Child Care Facilities Board, under the support of LMDA, received funding to do an Island wide study of the Early Child Care sector.
  • The ECDA, in partnership with East Prince Health and the provincial Health and Social Services, received funding for the 2nd phase of the “Fair Play Project” which focused on children's empathy skills. The 2nd phase of the project was focused on all Island licensed child care centres.
  • The ECDA held regular meetings with Provincial Ministers.
  • Understanding the Early Years results were released along with the First Report Card on Children.
  • PEI hosted the “Braiding Our Resources” Conference.
  • The ECDA, in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services, began a two year Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale Pilot Project.
  • The ECDA submitted to the Provincial Government an investment proposal, “Unlocking the Early Childhood Sector”.
  • Draft wage scales created by “Worthy Wages and Working Conditions” committee.

2002

  • The ECDA began a “Building Child Focused Communities” Project.
  • The ECDA had a study of the Early Childhood Education Sector conducted and shared in the “For Our Educators” report.
  • The ECDA hired a Community Coordinator to work with the Association and the Understanding the Early Years project.
  • The ECDA began the “Keeping the Promises” campaign directed toward Provincial and Federal governments in conjunction with the Canadian Child Care Federation.
  • A Community Resource Centre was developed at the ECDA office
  • The ECDA launched their own website
  • “Play Fair Kids” is launched Island wide for all licensed early childhood programs. The project focuses on emotional and empathy development in young children.

2003

  • Released Phase 1 of PEI Salary Scales and job descriptions for Early Childhood Educators bearing credentials in Early Childhood Care and Education.
  • Launched "Keys to the Future" Campaign across PEI with Supervisors of Licensed programs.
  • As a follow up from For Our Educators.Holland College and HRDC to implement an Accelerated Training Model for caregivers working in licensed programs, not bearing credentials in early Childhood Care and Education. released in 2002, initiated discussions and collaborated with departments of Health and Social Services, Education,
  • Supported 15 Students and Supervisors involved with the accelerated ECE training through the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre.
  • Continue to work in partnership with community and Governments to ensure training opportunities are accessible and affordable for all ECE's across PEI.
  • Partnered with PEI's Premier Council on Healthy Child Development, and Government of PEI to offer The Early Years, Making a world of Difference Conference with the support of HRDC and National Crime Prevention.
  • Several ECE's received training in the PIP's Mentoring Model, and have begun to share this model with ECE's across PEI's early childhood sector.
  • Under the guidance of Child Care Connections, Nova Scotia, with funding from HRDC, developed an environmental scan of the issues surrounding Recruitment and Retention of Trained ECE's across PEI.
  • An Executive Director was hired for the Association.
  • Measuring and Improving Kids Environments (M.I.K.E) has moved from a project to a program under the ECDA in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services.
  • ECDA and UEY project, partnered with Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development to co-host the Island's 1st annual Learning Event.
  • "Fair Play Kids" project released children story books and a CD to compliment the stories, focusing on developing empathy skills in young children.
  • UEY champions, combined their knowledge and skill with UEY findings, began to inspire discussions and actions at the local level about support for children's development.
  • UEY reached out to networks involved with the province's Healthy Child Development Strategy to discuss UEY learnings in the context of their specific areas of interest-family literacy, children's mental health, and so on.
  • UEY collaborated with the Department of Health and Social Services on a data sharing initiative designed to make PEI the best place to conduct child-centered research. This initiative will enable researchers to combine numerous data sets to form more complete pictures of how children are doing.

2004

  • Supported Island Programs to participate in Island wide PD opportunity.
  • Co-hosted Living a Legacy conference with the Canadian Child Care Federation.
  • Understanding the Early Years Project continues to give community members and decision makers a means of understanding how Island communities are doing in supporting healthy child development.
  • The ECDA continues to advocate for quality programs, quality early childhood educators, and a financially stable infrasture.

2005

  • Hosted Braiding Our Resources Conference
  • Launched new and improved ECDA website

2006

  • First ever "Leaning Centre Challenge"- #1st place 'Sunshine Daycare'.
  • First Annual "Early Childhood Awards Banquet".
  • Supported the sector to ensure early learning and child care gained provincial election campaign attention and focus.

2007

  • Hosted Braiding Our Resources conference "Caring For The Whole Child"
  • Second Annual Learning Centre Challenge #1st place 'Leaps and Bounds'
  • ECDA, Department of Social Services and Seniors and Department of Education combined the Mentor program and the M.I.K.E program into "Bridges" to continue to work efficently and effectively with the ELCC sector.
  • ECDA working in partnership with the Children's Secretariet and Department of Social Services and Seniors to deliver the Data Network Project. 2008 
  • Supported the sector to deliver Island wide message on the value and importance of community based kindergarten across PEI.
  • Provided the sector support to create a positive focus on the importance of the early years.